Virtue in Danger

A musical in 2 acts: Book and lyrics by Paul Dehn; music by James Bernard. Based on Jon Vanbrugh's The Relapse or Virtue in Danger.

Mermaid Theatre, London 10 April, 1963. Transferred to Strand Theatre 3 June, 1963 (perfs 121)

Synopsis

The main action deals with the brief relapse of the happily married Loveless into his former ways. During a visit to London he seduces a pretty widow disregarding the warnings on his virtuous wife Amanda, who herself remains faithful to her philandering husband in spite of an attempt at seductioon by Mr. Worthy. The subplot concerns the efforts of the penniless young Mr Fashion to cheat his foppish and overbearing brother out of marrying for the sake of a fortune, and enterprise in which he succeeds by posing as his brother and marrying the lady himself.

Musical Numbers:

1. Introduction
2. Don't Call Me Sir! - Lord Foppington
3. Fortune, Thou Art a Bitch! - Fashion & Lory
4. I'm In Love With My Husband - Amanda & Berinthia
5. Hurry Surgeon! - Lord Foppington, Doctor Syringe & Chorus
6. Conscience, Thou Art a Bore - Fashion, Lory & Chorus
7. Let's Fall Together - Berinthia
8. Nurse, Nurse, Nurse! - Miss Hoyden, Nurse, Fashion
9. Say the Word - Worthy, Amanda
10. Fire a Salute - Lord Foppington, Sir Tunbelly Clumsey & Chorus
11. Put Him In the Doghouse - Sir Tunbelly Clumsey, Lord Foppington & Chorus
12. Hoyden Hath Charms - Sir Tunbelly Clumsey
13. Berinthia's Recit - Berinthia, Loveless
14. Wait a Little Longer, Lover - Berinthia, Worthy
15. Why Do I Feel What I Feel? - Fashion
16. Stand Back Old Sodom - Coupler, Fashion
17. O Take This Ancient Mansion - Nurse, Fashion, Lory, Bull, Coupler
18. Finale - Company
19. Epilogue - Company

Cast of Characters

(in order of appearance)

Lord Foppington's Servants
Seamstress
Tailor
Hosierr
Shoemaker
Perruquier
Lord Foppington - newly made a Peer
Page
La Varole - valet to Foppington
Fashion - impecumious brother to Foppington
Lory - servant to Fashion
Coupler - a schemingmatchmaker
Waiter
Amanda - faithful wife to Loveless
Loveless - erring husband to Amanda
Janitor
Berinthia - a prospecting widow
Doctor Syringe
Worthy - a philanderer
Abigail, Blemish - serving maids
Mis Hoyden - Sir Tunbelly's daughter
Nurse to Miss Hoyden
Sir Tunbelly's Servants
Sir Tunbelly Clumsey - a wealthy Squire
Bull - an Ecclesiastic
Justice
Sir John Friendly